Vulnerability in Linux

CVE-2026-63823

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: keys: Pin request_key_auth payload in instantiate paths A: request_key() B: KEYCTL_INSTANTIATE_IOV ================ ========================= create auth key store rka in auth key wait for helper get auth key load rka from auth key copy user payload sleep on #PF helper completed detach and free rka destroy auth key wake up use rka->target_key **USE-AFTER-FREE** Give request_key_auth payloads a refcount. Take a payload reference while authkey->sem stabilizes the payload and revocation state. Hold that reference across the instantiate and reject paths. Drop the auth key owning reference from revoke and destroy. [jarkko: Replaced the first two paragraphs of text with an actual concurrency scenario.]

EPSS: 0.001 (2.4th percentile) — read the EPSS interpretation.

CVSS v3 metric

CVSS v3 base score 7.8 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Affected products

  • Linux — versions 6.18.38, 7.2-rc1, 7.2

References

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-63823?
CVE-2026-63823 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux. CVSS score: 7.8/10. Published 2026-07-19.
How severe is CVE-2026-63823?
High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 7.8 out of 10.